A DIY gift will always trump a store-bought one—if you create a present that really suits the recipient and shows off your impressive skills or thoughtfulness. Here are several great DIY creations that may very well prompt your gift recipient to say "You made that for me??"

Easy DIY Gifts

Vintage Book GRID-IT

We're pretty fond of the GRID-IT line of versatile gadget organizers. While the official organizers aren't expensive, this DIY version lets you customize the cover as your recipient's favorite book and show off your crafty skills. Well, all you really need is a sewing machine.

Binder Clip Cellphone Car Mount

This $2 stocking stuffer is just as useful as its $50 branded counterparts. Take two amazingly versatile binder clips and transform them into a smartphone or cellphone car mount. If your gift recipient hasn't seen this hack before, he or she will likely think you're a genius with this clever MacGyver gift.

DIY Smoker from Flower Pots
If your friend loves slow-cooked, smoked meat (i.e., he/she isn't a vegetarian or vegan), this is a great backyard smoker that costs hundred of dollars less than commercial ones. Build a smoker out of flower pots and other readily available parts for about $60 or less. You just need to be able to wield a drill.

Personalized DIY Gifts

Photo Lamps

For less than $10, you can create a truly unique and personalized present that your gift recipient will actually want, admire, and use: a lamp that showcases old snapshots from 35mm negatives. Take a $7 IKEA lamp and use decoupage glue to make better use old negatives. Use the right negatives, and this sentimental, meaningful gift will highlight what the season is all about.

DIY Photo Canvas

Sure, you could buy a photo canvas print from a number of photo services, but you can easily do it yourself—and the time and energy you put into making this keepsake/piece of personal art makes all the difference. (Canvas prints are pretty expensive too.) It's also a very forgiving DIY gift: the imperfections during the photo transfer make the final product even more touching.

Stickygram Instagram Magnets

Here's a quick and inexpensive gift anyone can make: customized magnets made from your Instagram photos. Technically, you're not really making the magnets yourself—the Stickygram service is—but you have to take the photos and select which ones to share with your gift recipient. The cost is just $14.99 per sheet of 9 magnets, with free global shipping.

Geeky DIY Gifts

Nintendo Arcade

For that special NES games lover, turn an old laptop and monitor into a table-top gaming machine. All you need are some decent carpentry and soldering skills to make your own Nintendo Arcade. (It can still be used as a regular PC as well, if your gift recipient can break him/herself away from Super Mario Brothers.)

Solar-Powered MintyBoost

Know anyone who could use a portable smartphone charger? Of course you do. With an Altoids tin, rechargeable lithium battery, and a solar panel, you can make a terrific solar-powered one. Either hack one together yourself or just get the official MintyBoost from Adafruit Industries.

Mason Jar Speakers

These unusual battery-powered "audioJar" speakers are made out of mason jars. The design, which uses MIT's David Mellis's Fab Speakers instructions, is very customizable, so you can make a more portable version or one that looks completely unique.

RaspBerry Pi Keyboard Computer

Got your hands on an inexpensive Raspberry Pi and willing to turn it into a gift for someone? Make an old-school computer-in-a-keyboard by simply stuffing the Raspberry Pi in there and modding the keyboard case.

Desk Fan/Heater

Finally, here's a little desk accessory that's both practical and attractive. The wooden cube can stream warm air at your gift recipient when the weather is nippy or act as a small fan in warmer weather. Plus, it's got built-in ambient LED lights. With some basic carpentry skills, you could create this desk fan/heater, which will remind your gift recipient of you all year round.